Day 1: Global Young Advisors Begin a Week of Learning and Collaboration | 13 July 2026
The 12th International Children’s Advisory Network (iCAN) Summit 2026 opened its week-long programme at Barretstown, County Kildare, Ireland, bringing together children and young people, researchers, healthcare professionals, industry representatives, and patient advocates from around the world for a week of collaboration, learning, and meaningful youth engagement in research and healthcare.
Hosted by University College Dublin (UCD) at the Barretstown campus, the 2026, 12th iCAN Summit. The TEDDY Network extends special recognition to Dr. Suja Somanadhan for her role as Co-Organiser of the 12th iCAN Summit 2026. Professor Somanadhan serves as a member of the TEDDY Board of Directors, Chapter Leader of KIDS RAiN, one of the Young Persons’ Advisory Groups (YPAGs) within the TEDDY KIDS Network and contributes to the TEDDY Working Group on Children Engagement and Advocacy. She also serves as Associate Professor of Children’s Nursing and Associate Dean for Global Engagement at University College Dublin, where she continues to promote meaningful partnerships between young people, researchers, and healthcare professionals.
The summit welcomes children and young people aged 8 – 18 years from around the world to learn from one another while exploring clinical trials, science, biomedical research, biotechnology, innovation, and health policy. Throughout the week, participants will collaborate, exchange experiences, and contribute their perspectives to help shape more child-centred research and healthcare.
The opening day introduced participants to the iCAN community and its global initiatives, including the Youth Council, Young Professionals’ Network and KIDS Virtual programme, before young delegates joined their collaborative working groups (“Pods”) to begin building connections across countries and cultures.
A key milestone of the day was the iCAN Advisory Board Meeting, held during the afternoon, bringing together members of the Advisory Board to discuss the continued development and strategic direction of the international iCAN network. Among those participating was Dr. Donato Bonifazi, Chair of the TEDDY Network, and the coordinator of TEDDY Working Group on Children Engagement and Advocacy, who serves as a member of the iCAN Advisory Board and continues to contribute to strengthening international collaboration in child and youth engagement in paediatric research.
The TEDDY Network is proudly represented throughout the Summit by several Young Persons’ Advisory Groups (YPAGs) from across its international network, including KIDS Albania, KIDS Bari, KIDS Kosova, KIDS Umbria, KIDS RAiN, eye-YPAG, and POLPEDNET KIDS Warsaw. Their participation reflects TEDDY’s long-standing commitment to promoting meaningful child and youth involvement in paediatric research and healthcare. The first day concluded with the official Summit Kick-Off Celebration, providing participants with an opportunity to strengthen international friendships and begin a week of collaboration, learning, and shared commitment to ensuring that children’s voices remain central to the future of research and healthcare.